Madrid Confirm Hierro Fears

Fernando Hierro will be out of action for five or six weeks after tests revealed the extent of his knee injury on Monday.

The Real Madrid captain has torn a ligament in his knee after clashing with Real Betis' Denilson during the Merengues' 4-1 win at the weekend.

"The injury is as serious as we first thought," confirmed Madrid's doctor, Juan Carlos Hernandez.

"He has damaged one of the internal ligaments in his knee."

Hierro's absence will cause problems for Madrid as he only has Francisco Pavon as cover for the important Champions League encounters with Borussia Dortmund, Milan and Lokomotiv.